Friday's Meetings Newbury N/H 8 Races 1:45-5:35p.m. Musselburgh N/H 7 Races 2:00-5:15p.m. Lingfield A/W 6 Races 2:10-4:55p.m. Dundalk(E) A/W 8 Races 5:10-8:45p.m. Newcastle(E) A/W 6 Races 5:30-8:00p.m. Racecards At The Races Racing Post Sporting Life Good Luck
Newbury 16.30 15 months ago, Nube Negra ran Apple's Shakira to 3½l in a Triumph Hurdle trial. Admittedly the latter won easily but just 12 months ago he was btn 4l by the same horse in a Grade 1 race at Aintree, giving that horse 7lb when they were 3rd and 5th behind We Have A Dream. After a 220 day lay off he was 8th in a Grade 3 behind the likes of Silver Streak, Old Guard, Verdana Blue, Western Ryder etc, btn 13l by the winner. He returned to the track a month ago, having been off for 93 days and was cruising when brought down in a Class 2 handicap. He reappears tomorrow in another Class 2 handicap and with Skeltons present form he looks to be out for quick compensation. Short enough price a 5/2 but looks the class horse in this race. Main opponent seems to be the Nicky Henderson mare Sunshade. Well bred, owned by the Queen, things went wrong after a bright start last year and has had a wind op. But has a 363 day break to overcome
Ron, I’ve spoken about Sunshade a lot on here in the past. Won her bumper and opening couple of hurdles before being elevated to Listed company in December ’17. Just prior to this run Lieutenant Henderson went live to the nation and announced that the mare ‘wasn’t really that good’ – some on here may bemoan the great man but I can think of no other trainer who would be so honest when talking about one of his horses (especially a Royal ‘un). Anyway, the old girl was beaten a distance when trailing home 3rd and then in the ‘Mares Hurdle Final’ had her limitations exposed again when been beaten 20 lengths. I must admit that following that run I thought that would be it and Her Majesty would retire this one to the breeding sheds (Sunshade that is not Lieutenant Henderson) – the exact same thing happened with another Seven Barrows inmate, my old fave Heather Royal, after she ran in this contest (albeit under different ownership). Sunshade would certainly have been a useful addition to any breeding shed given her lineage and that 3rd place made her a black type performer. Was therefore surprised when I saw, in the summer, that they would be keeping her in training re 2018/19. Given what the forum’s favourite trainer had said about Sunshade over hurdles I did wonder if they would be going chasing this season but she has obviously had a problem and aren’t going to that route with just a few weeks of the term left. Preserve her novice status over the big ‘uns for the whole of 2019/20 and all that must be the plan. Maybe this is just an intended spin over hurdles prior to a few runs over fences in the summer months. That’s just a guess though I haven’t, as the saying goes, ‘been told…’. Not backing Sunshade today though due to the fact that you are guessing on her fitness (the old girls last run was a year ago tomorrow) and I think 134 over hurdles is plenty high enough given her last 2 runs. Maybe over fences will be where she will excel. The fact that she remains in training though is a positive re her long term future.
While I’m on can I quickly say something re O Connell Street who I had been bigging up on these pages. He finally made his debut last week and ran a solid, if not spectacular race, finishing runner-up. I’d guess he’d have another run in a bumper before going hurdling in term 2019/20. I loved his pedigree the regular readers may recall (the dam is a half-sister to 2 Champion Hurdle winners) and this was actually enhanced even further last week as O Connell Street’s half-brother won the ‘Ballymore’ at the Cheltenham Festival. O Connell Street will probably want 20 furlongs+ over timber so could he follow up his siblings success in the 2020 Ballymore?!? Time will tell, team, but one very much to still keep an eye on…
There doesn't generally seem to be much raving going on about City Island's performance last week but I absolutely loved the way he barged his way between rivals after the second last and then battled all the way to the line against Champ. A lovely fluent leap at the last hurdle too. Looking forward to his next run and to seeing the form tested. City Island is quoted towards the head of the market for next season's JLT but 33/1 is available for the Champion Hurdle. Might he follow the well-trodden path of Ballymore winners dropping back in trip to go for the following season's Champion Hurdle?
Fairlee Grace 3 40 muss The colt herd yard are in good form , they have two runners with chances here today ,this one is interesting , 5lb out of the handicap, but young sam negates 3lb so is 2lb extra a big burden for a half ton horse ? Drops back in trip slightly , held every chance at ayr couple of runs ago on better ground than last time , has another chance today 8/1
The Wolf in the first at Newbury is a nice horse and I do think they’ve got more to develop from him. Surprised to see him double figures in a field of closely matched horses. I’m surprised they’ve not gone handicapping with this horse but I wouldn’t be shocked to see more improvement today.
As it's poets day, I'll treat myself to a couple of each way shouts. Newbury 1.45 Smith's Bay Musselburgh 2.30 Weapon of Choice Enjoy and good luck.
A silly one for me in the first at Newbury. Getaway Mission 200/1 (3 places) & 150/1 (4 places). Two ew singles, only ride of the day for Tom O'Brien and for a decent yard I'm taking a chance that the horse just isn't as bad as it would appear and maybe will run into a place
Glad you're on stick, have you any experience of Spain's northern coast for a hoiday? Thinking about flying to Bilbao, picking up a rental car and renting somewhere on that Northern coastline (Or anyone else who is reading for that matter)
My only brush with Northern Spain is arriving on a ferry to Santander and getting on the first A road south. My readings on the subject however suggest that it is a wonderful area to visit and that the Basques are excellent hosts. It is a very different landscape and climate than that of the tourist areas of Spain.
Those loving a random rhyme must be doing cartwheels over the lucky last at Lingfield Park – Pendo takes on Hendo.
hi fellas! hope,youre well. newbury,1 45: REMASTERED was very disappointing last time out,but maybe,he just wasnt right on the day.his best run last season was surely,when he beat the very useful kateson,and he started this season just as well,with an all the way success at ffos las.this is,to some extent,the best form available here.big shout.
Wanderin Star 4 00 new The ivy grower runs this here after a two months break, always good for his methods, fresh , has won similar race earlier this season , with yard going well, he is definitely not an outsider in this, good claimer takes off weight! 10/1
newbury,2 20: quite an open race,but the last form of the lightly raced VOIE DANS VOIE is rock-solid,where he was second,and the first and third have both won again since.so,with more progress highly likely,should go very well here..
musselburgh,3 05: this is quite a tricky race,s all of these appear to be in reasonable form,but WISHFULL DREAMING might well come out on top again today,as he won easier,than his winning margin would suggest last time out at this course.u 7 lbr,but has won off higher marks earlier in his career,so thats not a worry for me..
not easy today.. newbury,4 00: a race not short on potential improvers,and WANDRIN STAR is definitely one of them.he won well enough 3 starts ago,and ran more than respectably the next time,off a 12 lbr higher mark,in a good race.was possibly stretched by the trip last last time out,so still makes some appeal today.e w contender..
